Another Quezon town mayor contracts COVID-19

LUCENA CITY – The mayor of Panukulan island town in Quezon province has tested positive for COVID-19.

The local government of Panukulan reported on social media that Mayor Alfredo Rigor Mitra has tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The post on Facebook also includes a copy of the official report with Mitra’s signature.

Report said Mitra is asymptomatic and has been in isolation even before he submitted himself to a swab test on April 13.

The municipal hall will be temporarily closed and an aggressive contact tracing and mass testing of all local government officials and employees are ongoing.

Last week, Candelaria town Mayor Macario Boongaling also contracted the coronavirus.

Authorities in Panukulan called on the residents to strictly follow all COVID-19 safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus in the locality.

Panukulan and two other municipalities — Polillo and Burdeos — are located on Polillo Island off Lamon Bay facing the Pacific Ocean in the northern part of the province.

As of April 17 at 10 a.m. report by the Integrated Provincial Health Office, Panukulan, now under general community quarantine (GCQ), has logged a total of 35 COVID-19 cases, 13 recoveries and one fatality since the pandemic was declared in March last year.

The town has 21 active cases following the renewed surge of virus carriers in the locality.

CFC